New road marking and signage improvements to warn drivers of a hazardous junction have been installed on a Fenland road. Cambridgeshire County Council says the work carried out at the Boots Bridge junction between Manea and Wimblington was “in response to local concerns to improve road safety”.
A council spokesperson said: “The junction of the B1093 Manea Road and the B1098 Sixteen Foot Bank, also known as Boots Bridge, had seen a number of collisions before previous major improvements were made in 2019.
“Since then, incidents have reduced but residents have remained concerned about the junction.
Cllr Alex Beckett, chair of the county council highways and transport committee at Cambridgeshire County Council said: “We’re aware of the concerns and following further engagement with residents and councillors, we have made several changes to warn drivers ahead of the junction and, most importantly, aim to reduce vehicle speeds.
“We’ve lowered the speed limit on the approaches, added red countdown markers, new ‘give-way’ and directional signs, and introduced a red high-friction surface around the junction.’’
Cllr Charlie Marks, a local district councillor, said: “The new scheme has meant the signage being in places either replaced or removed, the 50mph speed limit has now been widened to 300metres from the bridge as the signage was confusing before.
“CCC did not see the need to put stop signs at the junction as this is not classified as an ‘accident black spot’ (something as parish and district councillors we disagree with).”
He said: “Better clearer/reinstated “SLOW” road markings have been put down and also the red road surface too.”
Cllr Marks said traffic lights could be installed “but as previously stated CCC feel that as this is not designated as an ’accident black spot’ so there is no budget to do this at this time.
“So going forward we as your local councillors along with the residents who live at the bungalow will monitor the effectiveness of these new works and should we continue to see accidents then of course we will be straight back onto CCC Highways and take it further up the tree if a satisfactory resolve is not found (i.e. traffic lights).”
“But despite all of this it remains for drivers to drive to the road condition and follow road signage etc, not to rely on sat nav’s and have full awareness of all that is happening around them.”
